Speaking at the European Parliament on 14 March 2007, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn showed his disappointment of the lack in progress on reforms.
"2006 was not a year of success for Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result of an extended election campaign, the reform agenda stagnated and the political climate turned sour, leading to nationalist rhetoric and tensions. We’ve had enough of it," Rehn said.
Therefore, despite having finalised the technical talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which would bring Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the EU and which constitutes a key step towards membership, the EU will not conclude negotiations on the SAA, Rehn added.
The commissioner said that the conclusion of talks depended on two conditions - police reform and co-operation with the War Crimes Tribunal.
Rehn also strongly supported a report drafted by MEP Doris Pack, in which she calls on the Council to increase pressure on Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue reforms.
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was established in 1995 with the Dayton Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the war. SAA talks have been formally opened in January 2006 and EU officials have repeatedly underlined the European perspective for the Western Balkans. However, it is questionable when Bosnia and Herzegovina will be ready to join the EU.
